Miniature structure



Jam. 1, 1933. e. D. WANNER MINIATURE STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 28, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheer,

0 E W 3 a w MW y m Jan. 10, 1933. e. D. WANNER 1,393,791

MINIATURE STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 28. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR LQ.M

A TTORNE Y Patented Jan. 10, 1933 PATENT OFFKCE GEORGE D. WANNER, OF DAYTON, OHIO MINIATURE STRUCTURE Application filed January 28, 1929. Serial No. 335,622.

This invention relates to miniature structures, such as toy airplanes, and other devices, made in accordance with the method herein set forth.

The invention relates more especially to the method of instructing in manual training work for acquiring knowledge of the arts to which the miniatures relate.

As herein illustrated and described, the

m invention comprises the unassembled mate rial for a miniature airplane and an instruction sheet, including full size diagrams, and part names, which are to be followed in constructing the miniatures. As applying to airplanes, the educational phase of the invention is especially timely and is regarded by educators as being helpful for acquiring practical knowledge of aviation and air-mindness of pupils.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the wing pattern for the miniature airplane;

Figs. 23 are plan views of the vertical and horizontal tail surfaces;

Fig. 4. is a view in perspective of a mounting board for assembling the wings andtail surfaces;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of an assembled s; 7

Fig. 6-7 are views illustrating further steps of assembling the wings and tail surfaces;

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of the fu e;

Figs. 9-10 are views of the fuselage and tail surface assemblies;

Fig. 11 is a detail view of the propeller;

Fig. 12 is a view in perspective of the assembled airplane;

Fig. 13 is a view illustrating winding of the propeller motor;

Fig. 14 is a view illustrating the wing adjustment;

Fig. 15 is: a view illustrating the tail ad- 45 justment.

Fig. 16 is a view of a device for forming the wire used in the structure.

The figures of the drawings, as here shown, are reproductions of illustrations which form 50 part of the printed instructions furnished with each set of parts for constructing a miniature airplane, Figs. 1-3 and 8-10 being full size illustrations.

Each set of parts consists of a wing pattern, or diagram, horizontal tail surface pattern, 5 vertical tail surface pattern, a sheet of waxed paper, uncut spar and rib material, tail surface bounding material, fuselage, propeller, propeller motor, mounting devices and a supply of adhesive for assembling the airplane.

The first step of assembling consists in placing the sheet of Waxed paper 1 upon a suitable support, as a board 2, the paper serving to prevent sticking of the parts to the board as the wings and tail surfaces are assembled. The wing and tail surface tissue paper patterns 345 are then placed over une waxed paper, wrinkles are smoothed out, and the material is fastened to the board with thumb tacks as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The wing spars 6 and ribs 7 are then cut from the material, preferably balsa wood, the measurements for lengths being obtained by laying the material on the wing pattern and marking it for cutting. A light, even coat I of cement is applied to one face of each spar and rib and the parts are joined aclhesively to the corresponding portions of the pattern. The ribs are cut to the required length for fitting freely between the front and rear spars, a drop of cement being applied preferably at the oints 8 between the ribs and spars. The assembled wings should be weighted if necessary while the cement dries (see Fig. 6) to obtain a perfectly flat wing surface.

Pins9 are then set in the board 4 alon the edges of the tail surface patterns l5 ?Fig.

7), the pins being inclined slightly inward. Edge .material 10, of any suitable material, such as light spring wire, is then placed upon the patterns inside the pins, the tension of the wire causing it to expand to the edge contour of the patterns, determined by the location of the pins. The ends of the wire overlay one another, as indicated at 1112. The wires are then joined to the surface material by applying cement along the outer edges of the wires between the pins, the edges adj acent the pins being cemented later.

The fuselage 18, as here shown, is rattan-J gular sha ed in cross section, and consists of a piece 0 wood, balsa wood preferably, directions being given for forming a taper at the rear end as indicated at 14. A hearing bracket 15 is fixed on the front end of the fuselage by a spur 16 anchored in the wood, a friction clip 17 is applied at the intermediate portion for supporting the propeller motor 20 laterally (Fig. 12), and a hook 18 is fixed inwardly adjacent the tapered portion 14 by a spur 19 anchored in the wood. In assembling the device the parts 15, 17 and 18 are first properly located on the fuselage by inserting the spurs 16 and 19 into the wood and causing the clip 17 to frictionally engage the fuselage, and cement is then applied to the parts and to the fuselage to firmly secure the same in their proper positions.

The outside marginal edges 21 of the covering paper 3 for the wings are then trimmed, with a knife or razor blade,- to the outer edges of the spars 6 and outer end ribs 7, the portion 22 of the paper between the wings (Fig. 5) being left intact.

The wings are then removed from board 2 and wing mounting clips 2324 are fixed at one end to the inner ends of the fore and aft spars of one wing (Fig. 6), the clips being fixed to the spars with cement and spurs pressed into the wood. The first wing assembly is then left for the cement to dry.

The opposite wing is then connected to clips 2324 in the manner described relative to the first wing, the unsevered portion 22 of the paper serving for holding the wings together in properly spaced relation during the assembling. A weight block 25 will be of advantage for preventing warping and maintaining the wings flat while the cement dries. The wings are placed alternately into the relative positions illustrated in Fig. 6 for effecting the assembling.

Pins 9 are then removed along the wire bound edges of the tail surfaces i5 and additional cement is applied to the edge portions of the wire that was covered by the pins, the parts being then left for the cement to dry. The outer margin 21 of the paper is then removed from the tail surfaces 4-5 in the manner described relative to the wings.

For final assembling of the airplane, the vertical tail surface 5 is located relative to the tapered end 14 of the fuselage as illustrated in Fig. 9, the spur 26 of the wire 10 being anchored in the wood and the tang 27 secured with cement in the manner described relative to the other wire parts.

The horizontal tail surface 4 is then located on the under side of the fuselage as illustrated in Fig. 10, with the wire 10 on the upper face of part 4. Cement is then applied at front and rear where the wire 10 contacts with the fuselage, the parts being firmly pressed together while the cement sets.

The propeller (Fig. 11) is furnished cut to the proper curvature, the faces and edges being left more or less unfinished, preferably, for hand dressing when the airplane is assembled. The propeller is also drilled for its shaft 28. The propeller shaft is also firmly held in place with cement.

Parts formed of wire 151718-23-24 and 28 are also preferably made as part of the manual training when the airplane is assembled, the wire material and a forming tool 29 (Fig. 16), together wit-h illustrations and instructions, being furnished with the outfit.

With all the parts assembled as described, the propeller motor, consisting of a rubber band 20, is connected between the propeller shaft and hook 18, the band passing through the can 17. The motor is energized by rotating the propeller as illustrated in Fig. 13.

The airplane may be operated without power, as a glider, or may be propelledby motor power. For circle and stunt flying adjustments of the wings and vertical tail surface are made as illustrated in Figs. 14-15, accordin to the character of the performance desired. The leading edge of one wing is normally Warped as illustrated in Fig. 14 for balancing the airplane against the torque of the motor. The rotation of the propeller, which is in counter-clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 13, also tends to cause the airplane to fly in a circle to the left. For straight away flying adjustments of the wings and the vertical tail surface are made accordingly. The airplane is adapted for indoor flying, the full range of flight being obtainable in an ordinary room.

While the method of instructing in the construction of miniatures and the material provided as herein set forth, relates to airplanes, I

the principle of the invention applies generally to the construction of miniatures and toys of similar character.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of constructing a miniature airplane having a wing frame, a cover therefor and a fuselage which comprises placing upon the wing cover material an outline of the wing frame structure, shaping structural parts individually to conform to the respective parts of said outline, attaching said structural parts one to the other and to said cover material in register with the respective parts of said outline to form the wing, securing attaching devices to the ends of two such wings to connect said wings in spaced relation, and securing said attaching devices to a fuselage to support said wings on the respective sides of said fuselage.

2. The method of constructing a miniature airplane having a wing frame, a cover therefor and a fuselage which comprises placing upon the wing cover material an outline of the wing frame structure, shaping structural parts individually to conform to the respective parts of said outline, attaching said structural parts one to the other and to said cover material in register with the respective parts of said outline to form the wing, securing attaching devices to the ends of two such wings to connect said wings in spaced relation, securing said attaching devices to a fuselage to support said wings on the respective sides of said fuselage, and bending said attaching devices to properly position said wings with relation one to the other and to said fuselage.

3. The method of constructing a small device having a supporting structure with a cover of flexible material which comprises placing upon the cover material an outline of the supporting structure, shaping the material for the individual parts of said supporting structure to conform to said outline and securing said parts of the supporting structure to said cover material in register with said outline.

4:. The method of constructing a small device having a supporting structure with a covering of flexible material which comprises placing upon a sheet of cover material an out line of the supporting structure, said outline being spaced from the edges of said sheet of material, shaping the material for each individual part of said supporting structure to conform to said outline, securing said parts of the supporting structure to said cover material in register with said outline and trimming said cover material to conform to the contour of said outline.

5. The method of constructing a small device having a supporting structure and a cover therefor which comprises placing upon the cover material for the device to be constructed an outline of said device, bending a resilient rod to conform to said outline, attaching said resilient rod to said cover material in register with said outline and trimming said cover material about the outer side of said rod.

6. The method of constructing a small device having a supporting structure and a cover therefor which comprises placing on the cover material for the device to be constructed an outline of said device, setting a series of pins along the edge of said outline, bending a resilient rod and placing the same on said cover material within said series of pins and permitting the same to expand into contact with said pins, whereby it is caused to conform to the contour of said outline, securing said rod to said cover material, removing said pins and trimming said cover material along the outer side of said rod.

7. The method of constructing a miniature airplane having wing and tail frames, covers therefor, and a fuselage which comprises placing upon the cover material outlines of the wing frame structures and of the tail surfaces, shaping individual frame parts to conform to said wing frame outlines and attaching the same to said cover material in regis- 

